Label applying mechanism



July 27, 1954 G. W. VON H OFE LABEL APPLYING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 14, 1950 FIGS.

FIG.2.

INVENTOR. GEORGE W. VON HOFE ATTORNEY.

Patented July 27, 1954 LABEL APPLYING MECHANISM George W. van Hoie, Bound Brook, N. J., assignor to New Jersey Machine Corporation, Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 14, 1950, Serial No. 179,109

9 Claims.

This invention relates to labeling machines, and more particularly to the means in such machines for applying labels or the like to the articles to be labeled.

Labeling machines of the type with which this invention is concerned, are designed for labeling articles of varying classes and dimensions. While the labeling machines heretofore made are generally successful in accomplishing the purposes for which they are designed, such success depends to a large extent on the fact that the articles on which they work, are structurally rigid, particularly in the case of containers. As a result, present day labeling machines cannot satisfactorily label containers made of flexible material such as for example, bottles made of a flexible polyethylene material of the type now coming into general use in the manufacture of containers.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide means whereby containers such as bottles made of flexible material can be satis- :factorily and successfully labeled.

The foregoing object is achieved in accordance with the invention by providing means for temporarily rigidifying the portion of the container to which the label is to be applied, and then with a uniform pressure amxing to such surface portion a label coated with an adhesive which when dry, does not become hard and brittle, but remains flexible and which in its dry state, hecomes inseparably bonded to the material of the container.

It is believed that a better understanding of the invention as well as its objects and advantages will be had after a perusal of the following description when readin connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, illustrating one manner in which the invention may be practiced; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the label applying parts in closed condition; Fig. 4 is a partial schematic View showing another manner in which the invention may be carried out, and Fig. 5 is a schematic View illustrating another method of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings, the numeral it designates generally, a bottle made of polyethylene material and having side walls of such flexibility that they give under relatively small pressures, and may readily be squeezed to bring diametricallyopposed portions thereof into contact. In effect, the bottle has the same rigidity as if it Were made of a flexible rubber compound and sub stantially exhibits the same physical characteristics as a rubber bulb of like form.

The bottle i 0 is deposited on a suitable support I l at the label applying station of a label applying machine of any well known type, such as the labeling machine described and illustrated in the Von Hole Patent No. 2,227,816, issued January 7, 1941. In such a machine, there is provided a transfer means for the labels in the form of a suction head which successively carries labels from a source of supply to the label applying station of the machine. At the label applying station, the suction head is lowered to apply the label carried thereby to the article; the suction in the head being so controll d that when the label is deposited on the article, such suction is released. As is shown in Fig. l of the drawings and explained more fully in said Patent No. 2,227,816, the mechanism for accomplishing this operation may include a carriage l2, which is slidably mounted on a rail 53 and is reciprocated on such rail by mechanism exemplified by the rod l4 and the arm i5; such rod 14 being pivotally connected at it with the carriage i2 and at I! with the arm it. A member or plunger i 8 is mounted on the carriage for vertical reciprocation thereon by suitable means in properly timed relation with the associated elements, and at its lower end carries the transfer device or suction head generally designated i9. In the operation of this mechanism, the carriage I2 is reciprocated on the rail E3 to carry the suction head it between the pick-up station where a label is picked up and the label applying station H, where such label is applied to the article for which it is intended, such as the bottle in. It will be understood that in the operation of this mechanism, the plunger i8 is operatively controlled to correspondingly control the operative steps of the suction head E9.

in practicing the invention, the labels may be of any desired form or dimensions, and may have any suitable type of adhesive coating provided on one surface thereof. I have found however, that in order to obtain the best labeling results in accordance with this invention, the adhesive coating on the label should be composed of a heat activatable thermoplastic material, as such adhesive coating retains a degree of flexibleness, which enables it to bend with the label covered portion of the article without rupture of its bond with the latter. Furthermore, when the article is made of substances such as are formed from polyethylene materials, the thermoplastic adhesive material becomes in effect, an inherent part of such substances, so as to permanently bond the label to the article, particularly when the label applied under pressure with heat. The labels may either be fed from a supply stack directly to the label applyin station such as is disclosed in my Patent No. 2,489,837, issued November 29, 1949, or connected in the form of a continuous web 2i, which is wound into a roll 22 so that the surfaces thereof to which is applied the thermoplastic adhesive coating, are disposed to the periphery of such roll, as shown in Fig. 1 01": the drawings. In the illustrated form of the invention, the roll 22 is supported by a shaft 23, which is mounted in the machine in any suitable manner to permit the roll 22 to unwind during the operation or the machine. The web 2! is fed towards the pick-up station 20 in any suitable manner, as by feed rollers 2%, M, operated intermittently in steps dependent upon and corresponding to the longitudinal dimension of the labels. At the iclr-up station 28, the machine is provided with a support 25 over which the web is fed and associated with such support are suitable operating means 25, 26 to separate the individual terminal. labels Zl from the web 2! when a terminal label 2'! is properly positioned on such support. The arrangement and operation of the feeding and cutting mechanism are such that the individual labels 2'? are deposited on the support in accurate label receiving relation with the suction transfer head it and with the thermoplastic adhesive coatings thereof overlying a plurality of perforations provided in the upper surface of such support. lhe said perforations communicate with a chamber 28 which is connected by means of a tube 29 with a source of air. Suitable means are provided to produce a. condition of suction in chamber 28 after a terminal label 27 has been deposited thereon, and to deliver compressed air into such chamber to blow the separated label 2'? into contact with the suction head is, when the latte is properly positioned in an at-rest position just above the label, as is shown. The suction in the head i5 is controlled by properly timed valving mechanism of any suitable t' pe so that at the time the label is transferred by air pressure from the support 25 to such head, suction will be effective in such head to maintain a label properly in position thereon and unti it is deposited on an article. lj'he head it preferably carries a heating device composed one or more electrical reesistance elements which are mounted in such h ad and which are connected with a source of electricity by wires 53, so that by the time a label has been carried by such head to the label applying station 55, the thermoplastic coating on such label has been adhesively activated.

After a l bel 2? has been deposited on the article ill at e label applying station, means come into operation to complete the application of such abel to the article. As will be observed from Figs. 1 2 of the drawings, the support 5! at the label applying station is recessed to provide a seat 35 for the accommodation or" the bottle It will be noted that the arc of curvature of the seat in a transverse direction has a radius greater than that of the body of the bottle and is ess than a semicircle so that the body of the bottle seated therein does not snugly lit in such seat and th longitudinal axis of such body is located above the upper edges of such seat for a purpose, which will hereinafter become more 4 clear. The support ll may be mounted in the labeling machine as shown in the afo 'esaid Patent l lo. 2,227,818. Cooperating with the support H, is a pressure mom er 35 depending from a member 5? vii. ch is vertically actuated in operative syncnronis with the other par -s or" the machine in any suitable manner, as the mechanib--. described and il in the previously mentioned Patent I The pressure per is pro ed with seat 38 substantially snnnar to seat as in support ii. The pressure member carries heating device oniposed of a of electrical resistances 39, 3 which are connected w a source of electricity the wires a1, til and w .ay be controlled b a thermostat i! to main in the pressure member 35 a predetermined uniform temperature.

It will be t tood from the foregoing, that in the operation of the machine, and after a label has been deposited on the bottle it by the suction id, the member 5'? is moved ot to thereby 1T ove the pressure member into engagement with. the bottle, as shown in 2 of the drawings. As the members and 3? continue their downward movement, the bottle distorted to the form shown in Fig. of the draw f the bottle, the diamet- 1 portions thereof, will assume the curvature of the seats 35 and 33; the seats their confining action rigidiiynig such wall portions and trlQ natural resiliency of the material of the bottle yieldingly resisting the low .vard relatively heavy pressure exerted by member through its seat During this phase of the operation, the label will be firml pressed so it into engagement with e When the press there exists no t aner will jam or loo 1 en tne applyin pressure is removed and the pressure member 35 withe: 35 and not be too t the distorunder the Tabel a f prestlie article. When the preshas been fully withdrawn, labeled bottle may be removed fr the and a new bottle sub tituted for the next succeeding cycle of leniachine.

The shape of the seats in the supper and ressure member may be brought into closer conformity with the bottle though not in exact conformity therewith for the reasons above mentionerl, if during the label applying operation the article is filled with a fluid such as com ressed air or water to temporarily ri y the confined portion of the bottle to which the label is to be afunder heavy pressure. This may accomplished shown in Fig. i of the drawings by attaching to mouth of a bottle deposited on the support 5 l, a connecting member capable of forming a substantially fluid-tight connection with such bottle mouth and provided on the end of a pipe it; provided with a control valve The pipe is connected with a source of fluid such as compressed air or water under a pressure greater than atmospheric. Thus, when the conre memv nection member 45 is secured to the bottle and the valve 41 operated, the interior of the bottle will be filled with fluid under pressure and through the latter, the walls of the bottle will be sufiiciently rigidified to withstand the pressure applied thereto by the member 33 during the final application of the label.

When bottles of the type previously described are to be labeled, the same result may be accomplished by exhausting the air from the interior of the bottle instead of filling it with fluid under pressure. In practicing this form of the invention, the top surface of the support H" and the lower surface of the pressure member 36' are plain flat surfaces; the pressure member 36 being preferably also of an area slightly greater than the area of the label which is to be attached to the bottle, as is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Instead of connecting the pipe 45 to a source of fluid pressure, it is connected to a source of vacuum so that when the connection 45' is attached to the bottle and the valve ll operated, substantially all air will be exhausted from the bottle and the walls of the body thereof will collapse. Preferably, this operation is carried out while the pressure member 36' is squeezing the bottle it against the support l I, so that the escape of the air in the bottle will be facilitated and such escaping air will cushion, and at the same time, render more eifective the pressure exerted by such member 35. Instead of exhausting the air in the bottle to the extent shown in .Fig. 5, the air in the bottle may be evacuated to a predetermined pressure or such that a sufficient portion of the surface area of the bottle conforming to the shape of the working face of member 3% is provided for attachment of the label thereto. At the end of the downward movement of the member 36', the parts will be in the condition shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The vacuum may be disconnected just prior to the upward return movement of pressure member 36 or may be maintained until after such member has completed its upward movement. Preferably, the valve 47 is a two-way valve, so that it may be operated to permit at mospheric air to enter the collapsed bottle it? in controlled amounts.

While I have hereinabove described and illustrated in the drawings, preferred methods of carrying out the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of labeling a flexible container having a flexible tubular side wall to which a label is to be applied, comprising adhering a label to the side wall of the container while the latter is in normal shape, then applying positive compressive pressure to the adhered label and the normally-shaped longitudinal part of said side wall to which the label has been adhered in a direction transversely to and toward the longitudinal axis of the article, continuing such positive compressive pressure to cause a substantial distortion of said side wall from its normal shape in directions transverse to such longitudinal axis, progressively finally attaching the label to said side wall while the latter is distorted under such continuing compressive pressure but not completely collapsed, continuing the progressive application of the label under such compressive pressure to such distorted side wall until the final attachment of the label is completed, and then releasing the compressive pressure on said side wall to enable the latter to assume its normal tubular shape.

2. The method of labeling a flexible container having a flexible tubular side wall to which a label is to be applied, comprising adhering a label to the side wall of the container while the latter is in normal shape, then applying positive compressive pressure to the adhered label and the normally-shaped longitudinal part of said side wall. to which. the label has been adhered in a direction transversely to and toward the longitudinal axis of the article, retaining the label in initially attached position on said side wall by said compressive pressure, continuing such positive compressive pressure to cause a substantial distortion of said side wall from its normal shape in directions transverse to such longitudinal axis while retaining the label in its initially attached position on said side wall, holding the label in a shape different from the shape of the distorted side wall part to which such label is to be finally attached and substantially in the shape at which the attachment of the label to such side wall is to be completed during the continuance of such compressive pressure, progressively finally at taching the label to said side wall while the latter is progressively distorted under such continuing compressive pressure but not completely collapsed, continuing the progressive application of the label to such distorted side wall and the progressive distortion of said side wall under such compressive pressure until the final attachment of the label is completed, and then releasing the compressive pressure on said side wall to enable the latter to assume its normal tubular shape.

3. The method of labeling a flexible container having a flexible tubular side wall to which a label is to be applied, comprising adhering a label to the side wall of the container while the latter is in normal shape, confining the labeled part of said side wall within an area having a cross-section dilferent from said side wall part in its normal shape, then while said side wall part is so confined applying positive compressive pressure to the adhered label and the normally-shaped longitudinal part of said side wall to which the label has been adhered in a direction transversely to and toward the longitudinal axis of the article, continuing such positive compressive pressure to reduce the confining area within which said side wall part is located and to cause a substantial distortion of said side Wall from its normal shape in directions transverse to such longitudinal axis, holding the label in a shape difierent from the shape of the distorted side wall part to which such label is to be finally attached and substanthe label to such side wall is to be completed durtially in the shape at which the attachment of ing the continuance of such compressive pressure, progressively finally attaching the label to said side wall while said confining area is progressively reduced and while said side wall is progressivel distorted but not completely collapsed under such continuing compressive pressure, continuing the progressive application of the label to such distorted side wall, the progressive distortion of said side wall and the progressive reduction of said confining area under such compressive forces until such compressive force is applied upon the entire surface of the label and the final attachment of the label is completed,

to enable the side wall to assume its normal tubular shape.

4. The method of labeling a flexible container having flexible tubular side wall to which a label is to be applied, comprising adhering a label to the side wall of the container While the latter is in normal shape, then applying positive compressive pressure to the adhered label and the normally-shaped longitudinal part of said side Wall to which the label has been adhered in a direction transversely to and toward the longitudinal axis of the article, con inuing such positive compressive pressure to cause a substantial distortion of said side Wall from its normal shape in directions transverse to such longitudinal axis, progressively iinally attaching the label to said side wall While the latter is distorted under such continuing compressive pressure but not completely collapsed, continuing the progressive application of label under such compressive pressure 30 such distorted side wall until the final attachment of the label is completed, providing during the application of such compressive pressure and the progressive application of the label under such compressive pressure a controlled pressure within the interior of the container to coact with said compressive pressure in completing the final attachment of the label to the container, then releasing the compressive pressure on said side wall to enable the latter to assume its normal tubular shape.

5, The method of labeling a flexible container having a flexible tubular side vvall to which a label is to be applied, comprising parti lly adhering an intermediate part of a label to a 1011- gitudinally extending portion of the side wall part of the container to be labeled while the la ter is in normal shape leaving the edges or" the label on opposite sides of such intermediate spaced from side Well, then applying positive compressive pressure to the adhered label and the normally-shaped longitudinal part of said side wall to which the label has been adhere: in a direction transversely to and toward the longitudinal axis of the article, holding the intermediate part of the label to the longitudinally extending portion of said side wall part by sai compressive pressure, continuing such positive compressive pressure to cause a substantial distortion of said side Wall from its normal shape in d rections transverse to such longitudinal axis, attaching label to said side wall while the latter is distorted under such continuing compressive pressure but not completely collapsed by simultaneously and progressively finally attaching the label on both sides of said initial line of attachment in an outward transverse fashion from such initial line of attachment, continuing such transverse progressive application of the label under such compressive pressure to such distorted side Wall until the final attachment of the label is completed, and then releasing the compressive pressure on said side Wall to enable the latter to assume its normal tubular shape.

6. In a machine for labeling flexible containers having a flexible tubular side Wall to which a label is to be applied at an applying station thereof, means spaced from said applying station for supporting a supply of labels, means for delivering a labs. from said supply to said applying station and for adhering the delivered label to the side Wall of the container While the latter is in normal shape, means for applying positive compressive pressure to the adhered label and the normally-shaped longitudinal part of said side Wall to which the label has been adhered in a direction transversely to and toward the longitudinal axis of the article, said applying means including pair of spaced members having artiole engaging surfaces nromally spaced a distance greater than the cross-sectional area of the artiole to be labeled and means for relatively moving said members toward each other to apply such compressive pressure tothe adhered label and the article, said applying being so constructed and arranged that when said spaced members are re ively from said normally-spaeed condition a continuing compressive pressure is exerted thereby on the article to cause a substantial distortion or" the side vcall thereof from its normal shape in directions transverse to such longitudinal to progressively finally attach t e label to side Wall while the latter is distorted under such continuing compressive pressure but not completely collapsed, and, to continue such progressive application of the label under such compressive pressure to such distorted side all until the final attachment of the label is con and means for relatively movspaced members from each other after con p to attachment or" the label to enable the s' wall of the container to assume its normal tu. ular shape.

7. in a machine labeling flexible containers a flexible tubular side Wall to Which a at an applying station therestation for r" labels, means for deliversupply to applying label to supporting a supply 0 on for adhering the silver Wall of the container while the latter is means for applying positive 0. e adh red label and ed -t part of said 1 the la e n adhered in a direction titans longitudinal sis of said applying means including a fir aving a surface for holding an articl lying station, a second member provided ivitl label engagthan the cross-sectional of the article to be labeled fro the hold ng surface of said first mentioned in ar and having an area at least as great the area of the label adhered to the article, and means for relatively moving said members toward each other to apply such compressive p sure to the adheLed label and the article, s us being so onstructed and. ranged that lative movement thereof continu. l, sve pressure is exerted thereby on the article to cause a substantial distortion of the side Wall thereof from its in directions. transverse to such longitudinal Isis, to pro --lly attach the label to said v tter is disspaced members away from each other after the complete attachment of the label to enable the side wall of the container to assume its normal tubular shape.

8. In a machine for labeling flexible containers having a flexible tubular side wall to which a label is to be applied at an applying station thereof, means spaced from said applying station for supporting a supply of labels, means for delivering a label from said supply to said applyingstation and for adhering the delivered label to the side wall of the container while the latter is in normal shape, means for applying positive compressive pressure to the adhered label and the normally-shaped longitudinal part of said side wall to which th label has been adhered in a direction transversely to and toward the longitudinal axis of the article, said applying means including a pair of normally-spaced members having article engaging surfaces, and means for relatively moving said members toward each other to apply such compressive pressure to the adhered label and the article, the surfaces of said members having such configuration that the labeled part of said side wall is confined within an area having a cross-section difierent from said side wall part in its normal shape, said applying means being so constructed and arranged that when said spaced members are relatively moved from said normally-spaced condition the confining area defined by the surfaces of said members is progressively reduced to cause a substantial distortion of said side wall from its normal shape in directions transverse to such longitudinal axis, to progressively finally attach the label to said side wall while the latter is distorted under such continuing compressive pressure but not completely collapsed, and to continue such progressive application of the label under such compressive pressure to such distorted side wall until the final attachment of the label is completed, the label engaging surface of one of said members holding the label in a shape different from the shape of the distorted side wall part to which such label is finally attached and substantially in the shape at which the attachment of the label to such side wall is to be completed during the continuance of such relative movement of said members, and means for relatively moving said spaced members away from each other after the complete attachment of the label to enable the side wall of the container to assume its normal tubular shape.

9. In a machin for labeling flexible containers having a flexible tubular side wall to which a label is to be applied at an applying station thereof, means spaced from said applying station for supporting a supply of labels, means for delivering a label from said supply to said applying station and for adhering the delivered label to the side wall of the container while the latter is in normal shape, means for applying positive compression pressure to the adhered label and the normally-shaped longitudinal part of said side wall to which the label has been adhered in a direction transversely to and toward the longitudinal axis of the article, said applying means including a pair of spaced members having article engaging surfaces normally-spaced a distance greater than the cross-sectional area of the article to be labeled and means for relatively moving said members toward each other to apply such compressive pressure to the adhered label and the article, said applying means being so constructed and arranged that when said spaced members are relatively moved from said normally-spaced condition a continuing compressive pressure is exerted thereby on the article to cause a substantial distortion of the side wall thereof from its normal shape in directions transverse to such longitudinal axis, to progressively finally attach the label to said side wall while the latter is distorted under such continuing compressive pressure but not completely collapsed, and to continue such progressive application of the label under such compressive pressure to such distorted side wall until th final attachment of the label is completed, means providing a controlled pressure within the interior of such container during such relative movement of said members and coacting with the latter to complete the final attachment of the label to the container, and means for relatively moving said spaced members away from each other after the complete attachment of the label to enable the side wall of the container to assume its normal tubular shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 548,661 Scales Oct. 29, 1895 1,963,494 Humphrey June 19, 1934 2,002,698 Kruczek May 28, 1935 2,279,724 Von Hofe Apr. 14, 1942 2,422,652 Bacon June 24, 1947 2,491,947 Bardash Dec. 20, 1949 2,492,908 Von Hofe Dec. 2'7, 1949 

